NAVY NEWS, SEPTEMBER 1995 Options
Aircrew answers open day
A SEA KING from HMS Cumberland scrambled for a rescue in the middle of an open day with 500 visitors in and around the ship. The helicopter was on the dockside at Barrow in Furness when a call came through from a retired naval officer whose son had been hit by a Land Rover in the Western Lakes area. Lt Cdr Legge had been on board Cumberland just two days earlier and knew about the Sea King's search and rescue capability and sent an SOS to the ship. Cumberland's commander Capt Mark Kerr gave the order to scramble and it took just 15 minutes to clear the area of visitors, complete flight servicing, brief the aircrew and take off. After a q u i c k refuel at Walney Airfield, the Sea King from 810 Sqn A Fit located 13year-old Guy Legge who lay on
SOS
the side of a mountain 13 nm away with a shattered right leg. With help from the local mountain rescue team, the aircrew prepared the casualty, briefed a doctor from the scene and flew them with the patient's mother to Furness District Hospital for treatment.
Full recovery The casualty underwent surgery for multiple breaks and is expected to make a full recovery. The Sea King returned to Barrow where the capabilities of the Mk 6 aircraft and the professionalism of the flight engineers and aircrew, Lt Mark Hill, Lt Mike Bullen, Lt Steve Gray and LACMN Paul Dingley, were appreciated by the large number of visitors.
Field day for Fleet Air Arm
FLEET Air Arm field gunners have won the 1995 Royal Tournament Inter-Command Challenge Cup after one of the closest contests for years. They finished just two points ahead of Portsmouth and three points clear of Devonport at the end of a hard-fought battle in London's Olympia stadium. The Fastest Time Cup was also won by the FAA with a run of 2.42.28, with Portsmouth and Devonports' best times both within five seconds of it. The aggregate times were; FAA 41.32.23, Portsmouth 42.04.62 and Devonport 41.43.40. The Sunday Express Trophy for the fewest penalty points during the week was awarded to Devonport.
All change as ships swop deployments
Multinational exercises for Manchester HMS MANCHESTER is back from the Arabian Gulf after a busy seven-month deployment on the Armilla Patrol.
Tropical whites were still the order of the day when HMS Manchester steamed back into Portsmouth for a traditional welcome from friends and families picture:
The ship sailed from the UK in January to join the RFA tanker Bayleaf, and acted as Task Group Commander when HMS Sheffield was on station in May and June. Manchester operated alongside the American navy enforcing UN sanctions against Iraq, and conducted multi-national exercises with French, Saudi Arabian and Bahraini navies among others. The ship played a major part in the International Defence Exhibition in Abu Dhabi (Navy News, May 1995) and joined the Five Powers Defence Agreement Exercise off the coast of Malaysia with ships from Australia, Singapore and Malaysia.
Gloucester recalls wartime comrades ON HER way out to the Gulf to take over Armilla Patrol duties, from Manchester, HMS Gloucester passed the spot where the ninth Gloucester was sunk during World War II and held a memorial ceremony for the 700 men who lost their lives. On May 22, 1942, the light cruiser was sent with HMS Fiji to pick up survivors from HMS Greyhound, sunk earlier by dive bombers while defending the island. The ships themselves came under heavy air attack, and with no air cover and insufficient antiaircraft ammunition, Gloucester was eventually overwhelmed.
rent HMS Gloucester's flight deck by Gloucester's Chaplain the Revd Bill Matthews, and ended with the commanding officer, Commander Chris Parry, laying a wreath in the water for those who lost their lives.
Bombed She was hit seven times by bombs and torpedoes before she sank and only 84 of the 807 ship's company survived and were taken prisoner. In less than a year's service in the Mediterranean, the 'Fighting G' won five battle honours and lost over 700 men, including two commanding officers. Admiral Sir Andrew Cunningham observed: "Thus went the gallant Gloucester. She had endured all things, and no ship had worked harder or had more risky tasks." The moving ceremony was conducted at sunset on the cur-
Above: HMS Gloucester at full power off Portland Left: Commander Chris Parry lays a wreath at the spot where her wartime counterpart was sunk near the island of Crete on May 22,1942. The ship was bombarded while trying to rescue survivors from HMS Greyhound.
Air Day raises ÂŁ30,000 lor
naval charities MORE THAN 22,000 people poured through the gates of HMS Heron to see the World's top military pilots in action at RNAS Yeovilton's International Air Day.
Russian Sukhoi-27 is flanked by two of Yeovilton's FA2 Sea Harriers
Picture: MEML Mick stokes
Daring performances from Russian SU-27 fighters, the latest Sea Harriers, Tornados, F-16s and the Red Arrows thrilled spectators. The theme for the event was the Fleet Air Arm in World War II, and memories of the past were brought to life with a Spitfire roaring overhead and a flypast by a Swordfish and Firefly of the RN Historic Flight. Helicopters from all over Europe took to the air and the grand finale was an airborne assault by Commandos fast roping from FAA Sea Kings.
Evoking scenes from Bosnia and the Gulf, troops were backed up by Gazelle and Lynx helicopters with heavy duty fire-power on call from Yeovilton's FA2 Sea Harriers.
Record The event raised a record ÂŁ31,000 for naval charities. Greatly improved facilities and the vast range of ground entertainments and exhibitions contributed to make the 1995 Air Day one of the best ever.
Heading South for winter SAILORS from HMS Westminster will soon be more familiar with the South Atlantic than Southsea with the redeployment of the Portsmouth-based Type 23 frigate. Westminster replaces HMS Marlborough (see page eight) for a seven-month stint. On her way she was diverted to the island of Montserrat which is threatened with a volcanic eruption, but will be in the Falklands on time after a brief stop at Rio de Janeiro. Before leaving, the ship strengthened her links with the City of Westminster by meeting the Lord Mayor, Cllr Alan Bradley, Westimnster Waterman Mr Gary Quitter from the the Honourable Company of Watermenand Lighter-men. He was presented w i t h a refurbished Waterman's Oar by the ship's CO. Cdr Andrew Cameron.